Freedom Sunday is coming up September 19. This is a time to unite with hundreds of other Nazarene churches across the globe to pray for an end to human trafficking, support church-led anti-trafficking efforts, and celebrate what God is doing to free those who are oppressed.
Let’s start with this thought….
We are not truly honoring God through our worship and rituals if we are ignoring the plight of people who are oppressed.
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“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
— Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
COMMENT: Through Scripture, God issues a call to advocate on behalf of those whose voices are quieted through oppression.
This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not relent.
They sell the innocent for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.
They trample on the heads of the poor
as on the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl
and so profane my holy name.
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
— Amos 2:6-7, 5:21-24 (NIV)
COMMENT: Our attempts to honor God are unacceptable if we attempt to worship in church services and religious events but ignore the plight of the oppressed and God’s call for justice in our daily lives.
SERMON STARTER 1
Passage: Genesis 37:1-36; 39-45 (Joseph’s Story)
Main Point:
God offers restoration to the vulnerable and exploited
God works out the details so we do not have to worry! Look at The father missed his son. & God worked through Joseph to reconcile the family and to Glorify Himself.
Overview: In Genesis, we read an early account of human trafficking in the life of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph was only 17. In Egypt, Joseph was a slave to Pharaoh, and he was thrown into prison when Pharaoh’s wife lied after being rejected.
But even in the darkest times of his life, God was still with Joseph. God gave Joseph favor with Pharaoh, and eventually he was put in a position to help his family. God also gave Joseph the opportunity to forgive his brothers and reconcile his family.
You have all heard me say God is in the circumstances. Very clearly in scripture God was working behind the scenes in the story of Joseph. His bleak beginning was of abuse by his brothers and slavery by the favorite. But God was about to take this boy and make him the second in command. As I look back in my life, it is not always been a bushel of roses, my beginnings were not always in a place of kindness, that God was working behind the scenes, because he knew that I would answer the call to preach. What circumstances can you pinpoint in your life that God has been in the circumstances? In your findings, you will find A testimony that needs to be shared. I want you to come in here September 19 with a testimony of praise for God and I challenge you between now and the end to share that testimony with three people.
In the story of Joseph, we see an example of how God brought good out of a situation that was clearly meant for evil.
God does not approve of slavery and exploitation.
In the story of Joseph we see that God used something that his brothers meant for evil and instead used it for good. This is not an endorsement of evil, but a testimony to God’s redeeming work. Human trafficking touches things all around us, including the food we buy, the entertainment we enjoy, and the clothing we wear. There is no such thing as a victimless crime. When we act selfishly in these matters, it affects the vulnerable.
Romans 2:8
New International Version
8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,(A) there will be wrath and anger.(B
Paul addressed the alternative to those who seek God by obeying His will and His word. God will give “wrath and fury” to those who are self-seeking and don’t obey His truth. Instead, these people obey their own unrighteous desires. Having seen this, God will express His anger toward them in judgment.
I would not want to be the recipient of God‘s wrath and his anger. I am so glad that I will be met with peace and love in an eternity of splendor.
Perhaps the wrath of God would lead to the judgement found in. Galatians 5:19-24
New International Version
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(A) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(B) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(C)
God is with us in our pain. The Scripture reminds us multiple times that “the Lord was with him.” God never abandoned Joseph. Joseph was betrayed by his family, enslaved, falsely accused, and wrongfully imprisoned, but God’s presence was always with him. Though people disappointed Joseph, God never failed him. Even in his darkest, most painful circumstances, God was with Joseph. Wherever you are, God is there with you, too (Hebrews 10:23).
God brings good from evil. God is a God of restoration. What others meant for evil, God was able to use for good.
Sometimes others will try to harm us or use us for their own benefit. Sometimes they succeed. But God is never blind to our pain. God sees. God knows. God cares. God is able to bring both healing and restoration.
And God can use us to bring His healing and restoration to victims of trafficking and exploitation.
